Uganda is a landlocked and falls at the influence of a number of regional centres of endemism making it the best place in East Africa for Birdwaching.

Uganda has a wide range of habitats ranging from snowcapped mountain tops in the west to semi-arid areas in the north-east; rainforest in the centre and west to open waters of numerous lakesThe diversity of habitats explains the unique biological diversity and the bulk of the country lies in tropical Africa with the Equator crossing the southern half of the country. It is bounded by the Rift valley in the West through range highlands along the western boarder including the Ruwenzori Mountain and the Virungas in the south western corner.

Dates: 19th June to 4th July

Guide: Harriet kemigisha

Group Size: 6 people

Cost $ 3500 per person.

Available space: 4 People

Day one:

Arrival and transfer to Imperial Botanical Hotel.

Day Two:

Early breakfast and head to Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria west of Entebbe International Airport. This is one of the few remaining wetlands in the country protected by the local

Communities, an extensive papyrus swamp with channels and lagoons, classified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident. This charismatic species is the only representative in its family and one of the most sought after Birds in Africa. Today we will make a special effort to find it by paddling through the channels by boat. There will be of course a good selection of classic African water birds; Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Pink backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath, Purple, Squacco , and Black headed Herons , African Fish eagle and African Marsh Harrier, yellow billed Duck, African and Lesser Jacana, Long toed Lapwing, Blue –breasted bee-eaters, Swamp flycatcher, Hamerkop , African water Rail, Allen’s Gallenule, Papyrus Gonolek , Papyrus Canary, Grey crowned Crane, African open bill Stork , Northern Brown Throated , Orange, Golden backed, Black headed and Village weavers , Red chested Sunbird, cape wagtail, Fan tailed widowbird ,winding Cisticola , African Grey parrots can be seen flying over head, Lizard Buzzard.

At the edge of Mabamba swamp in farmlands, you are likely to find Great Blue and Ross`s Turacos, Western banded snake Eagle, Black and white casqued Hornbill, African pied Hornbill ,Superb sunbird, Weyns`s Weaver, Purple and splendid glossy Starlings, Later proceed to Lake Mburo National park, Stay at Rwakobo Rock.

Day Three:

We start early after breakfast for a walk. This is the best and the only place in Uganda to see these typically southern savannah Species of particular interest we look for, Red faced Barbet, Tabora Cisticola , African Finfoot, and White-backed night Heron.

Day Four:

Birding to Ruhija: Ruhija is the highest section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at an altitude of 2607m above sea level, offering the finest montane forest birding in Africa and is a key destination for any birder coming to Uganda. The park is blessed with 90% of all the Albertine Rift endemics difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. Ruhija is likely to be the highlight of any trip to Uganda with excellent birding in spectacular trails .Birds are both plentiful and easy to see, many species associating in mixed feeding flocks that are active throughout the day .Stay at Trekker’s Tarven

Day Eight:

Birding to Queen Elizabeth

Today we start early after breakfast for Queen Elizabeth National park. This will be a whole day birding and travelling as we make several stops in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth in Ishasha birding on the way.

Day Nine:

On this day we shall leave Early in the Morning for a game drive in the Northern part of Queen Elizabeth and Boat Cruise Later transfer to Semuliki Valley National park. Here we look out for African Crake, Black Chinned Quail finch, Black Coucal, Green winged Pytilia, Marsh Tchagra, Black crowned lapwing, Fawn breasted, Crimson rumped and Common Waxbills, Red shouldered Cuckoo Shrike. While on the boat Cruise we shall have our first chance to see the African Skimmers, Saddle-bill Stork, African Spoonbill, Kitlitiz`s plover, Yellow-billed Stork, Goliath and Grey Herons, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, African Fish Eagle, Black Crakes and many other migratory and resident shore birds other wildlife include Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Bushbuck, Giant Forest Hog, Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyenas, Banded Mongoose, Waterbuck, Leopards and Lions. Later transfer to Semuliki Valley National Park, Stay at UWA cottages.

Day Ten:

Birding in Semuliki valley National Park to the famous Kirumia Trail.

Semuliki national park lies in the Albertine Rift valley, north-west of the Ruwenzori Mountain. Semuliki forest represents an easterly extension of the great Ituri forest of the North-eastern DRC and its flora and fauna show strong affinities with the Congo basin forests, this therefore makes it the best place in Uganda with high chances of encountering most of the West African species that cannot easily be accessed from other places. We shall start at dawn after an early Breakfast and set off with our packed lunches and spend the whole day birding in the Kirumia trail or any other part of the forest, Key species include; Red-Billed Dwarf, Black Dwarf, Piping ,African pied, Black and White Casqued, Crowned, White Crested, Black Casqued Wattled , and White Thighed Hornibills, Red rumped, yellow rumped and Yellow Throated Tinkerbirds, Yellow throated, Dusky Long tailed, Red Chested, and African Emerald Cuckoos, Rufous Sided Broadbills, Blue Billed, Crested and Red Headed Malimbe, Green-Tailed and Red tailed Bristle bill Fire Crested and Brown Chested Alethe, Lowland Akalat and Eastern Forest Robin ,Leave-Love, Pale fronted and Chestnut fronted Negrofinches, African Piculet, Grey throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail , Swamp Palm Bulbul ,Ituri Batis, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Maxwell`s black Weaver, Yellow throated Nicator, Grey Headed Sunbird, Lemon Bellied and Green Crombec ,Lowland Sooty Boubou ,White napped and Olive Pigeon, Red tailed and White tailed Ant-Thrush ,Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Congo Serpent Eagle, Ayres`s and Cassin`s Hawk Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Grants and Red billed Blue bill, Yellow Long bill , Narina Trogon , Yellow Crested, Brown eared and Gabon Woodpeckers, Icterine,Xavier`s Simple Red tailed, and little Greenbuls. In this park 53 species have been recorded but many of which are shy, rare and Nocturnal. Conspicuous species include Grey checked Mangabey, Vervet, Red-tailed and Gentle monkeys, Olive Baboon and Guezera Colobus. De-Brazza’s monkeys are rare and Chimpanzees occasionally heard but seldom seen. You are also lucky if you glimpse Elephant, Bush pig, Water Chevrotain, Buffalo, Sitatunga, White-bellied Duiker or Dwarf Antelope, Bee croft’s Anomalure or Zenker’s Flying Mouse and the Red-legged sun Squirrel and Stay at UWA Cottages.

Day Twelve:

Birding to Budongo forest

We wake up this morning, Have breakfast and Set off for Budongo area. This will be a whole day travelling with a good chance of birding on the way, Stop over will be done on strategic points to provide Birding Opportunities, stretching our legs and enjoying our picnic Lunch, Arriving in Masindi Late in the evening and Stay at Masindi Hotel

Day Thirteen:

Birding to the famous celebrated Royal mile

We shall have early morning Breakfast carry our packed Lunch and drive tone of Uganda `s Birdwaching hot spot, The Royal Mile, Historically known as leisure spot for the tradition King of Bunyoro hence the Royal. The forest comprises of very huge mahogany trees and the forest has been cut back a few meters along the sides of the mail trail providing excellent Viewing area .